Full Description of File

WCL: a Command Processor for Windows,OS/2 for Windows, and Win-OS/2. This program presents a native Windows implementation of a "C:>" prompt, full support for DOS internal commands like DIR, COPY, DEL, REN, MD, RD, CD, TYPE, application execution from the WCL command prompt, batch file processing in Windows, filename completion, command aliases, a "foreach" command, UNZIP, UUencode and UUdecode functions, and a large number of internal commands.WCL provides hooks for programmers to write their own extensions to the WCLcommand set.

WCL can also function as the Windows shell, in which case it offers even more facilities.

Contents of the README.TXT file

WCL: a Command Processor for Windows,OS/2 for Windows, and Win-OS/2. This program presents a native Windows implementation of a "C:>" prompt, full support for DOS internal commands like DIR, COPY, DEL, REN, MD, RD, CD, TYPE, application execution from the WCL command prompt, batch file processing in Windows, filename completion, command aliases, a "foreach" command, UNZIP, UUencode and UUdecode functions, and a large number of internal commands.WCL provides hooks for programmers to write their own extensions to the WCLcommand set.

WCL can also function as the Windows shell, in which case it offers even more facilities.

PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS DOCUMENTATION BEFORE USING WCL. Also, WCL is VERY customisable through entries in WCL.INI. That file contains a lot of comments on the customisation features.

PLEASE READ WCL.INI, and HISTORY.TXT before using WCL - otherwise you will be missing some of its greatest benefits.

README------The Windows Command Line Processor (WCL) is a program that presents afully featured DOS-like command line interface for Microsoft'sWindows 3.1x and IBM's Win-OS/2. For Windows users, it is the best wayof avoiding the dreaded "MSDOS PROMPT", while still having the benefitof a command prompt, and all the benefits of the Windows environment.For OS/2 users, it is one of the easiest ways of starting "seamless"Windows sessions, and in all cases, it is always a *far* better optionthan using Program Manager's "File, Run" menu, or opening the "MSDOSPROMPT"

WCL basically simulates the DOS "C:\> prompt", but from within Windowsor Win-OS/2. The WCL main Window is a small, unobtrusive window whichdefaults to the top left corner of the screen. It occupies very littescreen space, meaning that most of the rest of the screen is visible.

You can then run Windows and DOS programs by typing their names andpressing , just as you would do at the DOS command line.If you are running OS/2 version 2.1, then you can also run OS/2programs from within WCL. OS/2 users should please NOTE that WCLwill only run DOS and OS/2 programs under OS/2 as well as the ProgramManager will run them, since WCL uses the same API calls to run programsas the Program Manager. Some OS/2 programs will not run at all, if runfrom a Win-OS/2 session, and some DOS programs behave quite strangelyif run from Win-OS/2.

WCL is a neat, fast, and effective way for multi-tasking under Windows,and Win-OS/2, and can replace the Program Manager as your Windows orWin-OS/2 Shell. It also supports most of the internal DOS commands(e.g., COPY, DIR, CD, MD, DEL, REN, ATTRIB, DATE, TIME, SET, etc.)through built-in technology.

This file only contains instructions as to how to setup WCL. Fulldocumentation is contained in the on-line help, which is availableif you type "HELP" at the WCL command prompt.

Note: BIGWCL.EXE is a full alternative to the combination of WCL.EXE and WCLDLL.EXE. If you prefer to use the small window of WCL.EXE, then you can safely delete BIGWCL.EXE and save some disk space. If, on the other hand, you prefer the big window of BIGWCL.EXE, then you can safely delete both WCL.EXE and WCLDLL.EXE.

************** * Note also: * ************** The initialization file WCL.INI contains a lot of settings which will determine the attributes of the main windows of both WCL.EXE and BIGWCL.EXE. I have designed the program to be highly customizable by these settings.

It is important that you read this file, as it contains a lot of information/comments on particular settings. Feel free to experiment with the settings. You can call up this file into the Windows NOTEPAD by typing "CHG2" at the WCL prompt.

For those who are a bit wary of making manual entries in INI files, I have supplied a configuration program (WCLCFG.EXE). Most of the entries in WCL.INI can be set from this program.

It is also important to read HISTORY.TXT to see full details of the new features that have been implemented. This is essential even if you are a new user, since the information in the file can also serve as a feature summary.

Setting up WCL--------------There are two methods of installing WCL;

1. You may install WCL by simply copying the "essential files" listed above onto your hard disk, preferably into a separate directory. If you use this method, then you need to create Program Manager items for WCL.EXE and BIGWCL.EXE.

You may need to add the WCL directory to the "path" statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, or alternatively, to move BWCC.DLL into a directory that is in the "path" statement.

2. You may run the optional installation program (INSTALL.EXE). What this installation program does is; [a] install the "essential files" into a directory specified by you [b] optionally that directory to the "path" statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. This may be needed to allow Windows to locate the library file BWCC.DLL [c] optionally create a Program Manager group for WCL and Program Manager items for WCL.EXE and BIGWCL.EXE

To run the installation program, take the following steps; 1. Select "File, Run" from within Program Manager, and type "A:INSTALL" (if your installation diskette is in floppy drive "A:" If you are installing from another drive/directory, then substitute it for the "A:")

2. When the installation program loads, click on the check box titled "Click here to create Program Manager Item", if you want the installation program to create a Program Manager Group/Item for WCL. If you want to do this manually, then you can leave the check box unselected.

3. To start the installation, click on the button labelled "Start Install". When you do this, you will be presented with a dialog box which indicates the directory that you are installing FROM (source directory), and the default target directory (i.e., the directory that you want to install the program to). You can edit the TARGET directory if you do not like the default.

4. When satisfied with the source and target directories, click on the button labelled "Install Now". If you want to go back to the beginning, click on the button labelled "Abort".

When the installation is finished, the install program will volunteer to add the new program path to the "PATH" statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. You will be invited to confirm or skip this process.

If you want WCL to load each time you start Windows, you can put"WCL.EXE" on the "run=" or "load=" lines in your WIN.INI file,or put it in your STARTUP group.

------------ REGISTRATION ------------ This program is published under the SHAREWARE principle. This means that users are entitled to use it for an evaluation period of 30 days. If you wish to continue using it after this evaluation period, you are requested to please REGISTER your copy, or DELETE the program from your disks.

Please look in REGISTER.TXT or in the on-line help for details of my world wide REGISTRATION SITES (you will probably find one that is local to you). PLEASE PRINT OUT ORDER.FRM, or the REGISTRATION FORM in the on-line help.

On payment of this fee, you will receive a serial number, and a registration code which you will use to convert your copy into a registered version, and which you can also use to FREELY register subsequent shareware releases, until the next MAJOR release.

OPTIONAL EXTRA -------------- If you would prefer to be sent the most current version of WCL (instead of just a serial number and code), this can be done - but you will need to pay an extra fee of 3.00 (or $4.50 (U.S.). With this optional extra you still get a serial number and a registration code which you can use as described above.

PLUS: 3 for handling and shipping (not applicable in cases of transimssion by UUencoded e-mail)

Registration provides the following benefits: ---------------------------------------------

1. When you register your copy of WCL, you will be sent a SERIAL NUMBER and a code which you will apply to your copy to convert it into a registered version. This will;

[b] register your copy of WCL to you - you will become an officially registered user of WCL, and your registration details will be written into the executables.

[c] enable you to freely register all subsequent releases up to the next major upgrade, without reference to me, and WITHOUT ANY CHARGE (minor upgrades are numbered in .01 increments, while major upgrades are number in .10 increments: MAJOR upgrades require a 50% upgrade fee).

[d] Basically, you should feel free to obtain and apply the code to all subsequent shareware releases, until the registration code which you will receive stops working. That will be the signal that you now need to pay the upgrade fee.

[e] when you type "VER", you will see your SERIAL NUMBER, and your NAME (as the registeree) - this is the information that you must use to register subsequent releases.

2. Support for the program 3. A clear conscience 4. The satisfaction of being an honest person

AND,

IF YOU REGISTER WITH THE OPTIONAL EXTRA; ---------------------------------------- 1. If requested, a wordprocessed copy of the on-line help in Windows WRITE format. Note that this file is NOT well formatted. It is just a direct dump of the WCL.HLP help file into a format that can be read by AmiPro or Windows WRITE.

2. Complimentary copies of some of my Windows utilities, namely;

[a] EXITWIN.EXE (click on the icon of this program, and you quit Windows - no fuss, no warnings, no questions) [b] RUNWIN.EXE (click on the icon of this program, and Windows is shut down and restarted again - useful for those occasions when you need to reboot Windows, e.g. you have just installed a new device driver, or something has corruped Windows, and you want to restart it).

***** NOTE: ***** Please note that there is NO printed manual. What I can provide in lieu of this is the on-line help (WCL.HLP) in a wordprocessor file format, for those who take the OPTIONAL EXTRA registration, and request it (see above).

************************************************************************NOTE:WCL has an UNZIP command, which is based on freeware Borland Pascalsource code produced by the internet group INFO-ZIP. The Pascal sourceis freely distributable, and any user of WCL can obtain a copy from me,on payment of 5 Pounds Sterling (Note: U.K. funds ONLY) to cover thecosts of copying, shipping, and handling. Note that the source codeitself is FREE.